Installation of aerial transport

ABSTRACT

Installation of aerial transport, including a hauling cable, a travel path having a first segment equipped with two carrying cables extending along the hauling cable, and a vehicle having an attachment device configured to attach the vehicle to the hauling cable and two pairs of rotary sheaves configured to run on the carrying cables, the travel path having a second segment equipped with two rails extending along the hauling cable, and the vehicle having two pairs of wheels configured to run on the rails.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to aerial transport installations, in particular for transporting passengers.

STATE OF THE ART

At present, most aerial cable transport installations are used in the mountains and few of them are intended for urban transport. Certain installations equipping towns do however exist, but these installations are situated at great heights in order to avoid urban obstacles and also because they do not provide the possibility of negotiating tight bends.

US Patent Application US2016/0016593 can for example be cited which discloses a transport system by aerial hauling cable comprising a cable car segment with a carrying cable, a rails segment adjacent to the cable car segment, and a vehicle having a grip to couple the vehicle to the hauling cable. The rails segment comprises a motor-driven carriage having two pairs of wheels to run on the rails and configured to attach the grip in order to make the vehicle run on the rails segment when the vehicle is detached from the hauling cable. The system is however complex as a device has to be provided to power the motor-driven carriage in order to be able to drive the vehicle along the rail. The system is furthermore not suitable for an urban environment as, although the rails segment provides the possibility of negotiating tight bends, the rails require a large number of support pillars, which can make the installation cumbersome when obstacles have to be circumvented over large distances, for example to span rivers.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention consists in remedying these shortcomings, and more particularly in providing an aerial transport installation suitable for an urban environment.

Another object of the invention consists in providing an aerial transport installation providing the possibility of circumventing obstacles over large distances and enabling the vehicles to negotiate tight bends.

According to one feature of the invention, an installation of aerial transport is proposed, comprising a hauling cable, a travel path comprising a first segment equipped with two carrying cables extending along the hauling cable, and a vehicle comprising an attachment device configured to attach the vehicle to the hauling cable and a first running means configured to run on the carrying cables.

The travel path comprises a second segment equipped with two rails extending along the hauling cable, and the vehicle comprises a second running means configured to run on the rails.

A simple installation is thus provided which enables one or more vehicles to be hauled along a travel path, by means of a single hauling cable, enabling obstacles to be circumvented over large distances and tight bends to be negotiated in order to reach different locations which are not necessarily aligned.

The first running means can comprise two pairs of rotary sheaves configured to run respectively on the carrying cables.

The second running means can comprise two pairs of wheels configured to run respectively on the rails.

The second segment can also comprise at least one horizontal curve and guide means configured to guide the hauling cable along said at least one horizontal curve.

Advantageously, the second segment comprises at least one vertical curve, and the guide means is configured to guide the hauling cable along said at least one vertical curve.

The path of the first running means can be higher than the path of the second running means.

The first segment can be located above the second segment.

The installation can comprise a driving pulley to drive the hauling cable and two diverting pulleys to divert the hauling cable in the direction of the driving pulley.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given for non-restrictive example purposes only and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a top view of an embodiment of an aerial transport installation according to the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a side view of a detail of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a top view of another embodiment of an aerial transport installation;

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a station of the aerial transport installation;

FIG. 5 schematically illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a vehicle of the installation;

FIGS. 6 and 7 schematically illustrate two front views of other embodiments of the aerial transport installation; and

FIG. 8 schematically illustrates a front view of another embodiment of the aerial transport installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In FIG. 1, an aerial transport installation 1 has been represented comprising an aerial hauling cable 2 designed to haul one or more vehicles 3, 4 above the ground, a travel path 5 along which the vehicles 3, 4 are hauled, a drive means 6 of the hauling cable 2, and guide means 7 to 10 to guide the hauling cable 2 along the travel path 5. The aerial transport installation 1 further comprises at least one station 11, 12 for the passengers to board and alight from the vehicles 3, 4.

The drive means 6 is configured to drive the hauling cable 2 along the travel path 5. The drive means 6 is preferably located inside a station 11, called the drive station. The drive means 6 comprises a motor 13, and a driving pulley 14 driven by the motor 13 and configured to drive the hauling cable 2. The drive means 6 further comprises a tensioning means 15, 16 of the hauling cable 2. The tensioning means 15, 16 can comprise two diverting pulleys 15, 16, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, arranged on each side of the driving pulley 14 to divert the hauling cable 2 in the direction of the driving pulley 14. The axes of rotation of the driving pulley 14 and of the diverting pulleys 15, 16 are horizontal. As a variant, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the tensioning means 15, 16 comprises a single diverting pulley 15, also called return pulley. According to this variant, the axes of rotation of the driving pulley 14 and of the return pulley 15 are vertical.

More particularly, the travel path 5 comprises at least one segment 17, 18, called passing segment, configured to haul the vehicles 3, 4 over large distances. Each passing segment 17, 18 is provided with at least two carrying cables 19, 20 extending along the hauling cable 2. Each passing segment 17, 18 preferably comprises a main carrying cable 19 and a secondary carrying cable 20. The main carrying cable 19 is also called outer carrying cable as it is situated on the outside of the travel path 5, and the secondary carrying cable 20 is also called inner carrying cable as it is situated on the inside of the travel path 5. The passing segments 17, 18 are preferably straight. They also comprise support means 15, illustrated in FIG. 8, to ensure that the carrying cables 19, 20 are kept above ground level.

The travel path 5 further comprises at least one bypass segment 21, 22 configured to haul the vehicles 3, 4 along horizontal curves, i.e. to take left-hand or right-hand bends. Each bypass segment 21, 22 is provided with at least two rails 23, 24 extending along the hauling cable 2. Preferably, each bypass segment 21, 22 comprises a main rail 23 and a secondary rail 24. The main rail 23 is also called outer rail as it is situated on the outside of the travel path 5 and the secondary rail 24 is called inner rail as it is situated on the inside of the travel path 5. The main rail 23 and secondary rail 24 of the bypass segments 21, 22 are suspended above the ground and are designed to guide the vehicles 3, 4 along the travel path 5. Each bypass segment 21, 22 in addition comprises one or more supports 32, as illustrated in FIG. 5, on which the rails 23, 24 are mounted suspended above the ground.

In particular, each bypass segment 21, 22 comprises at least one curve 25 to 27 so as to guide the vehicles 4, 5 at different points, in particular points that are not aligned. A curve 25 to 27 can be an inner horizontal curve 25 directed towards the inside of the travel path 5, also called concave horizontal curve, to guide the vehicles 3, 4 towards the inside of the travel path 5. The curve can be an outer horizontal curve 26 directed towards the outside of the path 5 to guide the vehicles 3, 4 towards the outside of the path 5, also called convex horizontal curve. The curves can further be vertical 27 in order to guide the vehicles 3, 4 upwards or downwards. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, the installation 1 comprises at least one station 11, 12 and a bypass segment 21, 22 can comprise at least one section situated outside the station 11, 12. A bypass segment 21, 22 can also comprise at least one section situated outside the stations 11, 12, i.e. at least one section of a bypass segment 21, 22 can be situated between the two stations 11, 12. According to a variant illustrated in FIG. 1, a bypass segment 21, 22 can comprise a station section situated inside a station 11, 12, and two external sections situated outside the station 11, 12. Furthermore, the two external sections can be located on each side of a station 11, 12, i.e. respectively located at the entrance and exit of a station 11, 12. A section can be rectilinear. As a variant, a section corresponds to one or more curves 25 to 27 of a bypass segment 21, 22.

The guide means 7 to 10 can comprise sheaves, i.e. small wheels having a groove so that the hauling cable 2 is able to pass inside the groove. The guide means 7 to 10 can comprise support sheaves 7, on which the hauling cable 2 is placed in support, to support the hauling cable 2 above the ground. They can also comprise compression sheaves 8 which press on the hauling cable 2 in order to guide the latter along the vertical curves of the travel path 5 to move the vehicles 3, 4 in the upwards or downwards direction. The axes of rotation of the support sheaves 7 and compression sheaves 8 are horizontal. The guide means 7 to 10 can also comprise diverting sheaves 9, 10, on which the hauling cable 2 presses, to guide the hauling cable 2 in parallel manner to the horizontal curves 25, 26 of the travel path 5. More particularly, the axes of rotation of the diverting sheaves 9, 10 are vertical. In general manner, the sheaves 7 to 10 are located along the travel path 5 so that the hauling cable follows the vertical 27 and horizontal curves 25, 26 of the travel path 5. To keep the hauling cable 2 above the ground and to guide it along the horizontal curves 25, 26 of the travel path 5, one or more diverting sheaves 9, 10 are therefore located at each horizontal curve 25, 26.

More particularly, at each inner horizontal curve 25, diverting sheaves 9, called inner diverting sheaves, are located on the inside of a closed loop described by the hauling cable 2 in order to guide the vehicles 3, 4 to the inside of the travel path 5. On the contrary, at each outer horizontal curve 26, diverting sheaves 10, called outer diverting sheaves, are located on the outside of the hauling cable 2 to guide the vehicles 3, 4 to the outside of the travel path 5. Furthermore, the support sheaves 7 are located underneath the hauling cable 2 and the compression sheaves 8 are located on the hauling cable 2.

The travel path 5 can further comprise inclined curves, i.e. that are neither vertical nor horizontal, and sheaves can be inclined to guide the hauling cable 2 along the travel path 5.

The installation 1 can comprise a single vehicle 3 or several vehicles 3, 4. Each vehicle 3, 4 comprises a car 28, or one or more chairs, to transport passengers, and an attachment device 29 is configured to attach the vehicle 3, 4 to the hauling cable 2.

According to one embodiment, the attachment device 29 is a fixed grip to attach the vehicle 3, 4 to the hauling cable 2 in permanent manner. In this case, the drive means 6 has to be stopped so that the vehicles 3, 4 remain at a standstill to enable the passengers to board or alight from the vehicles 3, 4.

According to another preferred embodiment, the attachment device 29 is a detachable grip to attach the vehicle 3, 4 to the hauling cable 2 in removable manner. The detachable grip can be opened for the vehicle 3, 4 to be detached from the hauling cable 2 or be closed to clamp the hauling cable 2 to haul it, i.e. to mechanically connect the vehicle 3, 4 to the hauling cable 2. In other words, the vehicles 3, 4 are attached to the hauling cable 2 between two stations 11, 12 to be hauled at the speed of the hauling cable 2, and in particular along the passing segments 17, 18 and bypass segments 21, 22. The vehicles 3, 4 can be detached from the hauling cable 2 when the vehicles 3, 4 enter a station 11, 12.

When a station 11, 12 is located at the level of a passing segment 17, 18, the detached vehicles 3, 4 are moved on bypass circuits which are not represented for the sake of simplification. When a station 11, 12 is located at the level of a bypass segment 21, 22, the vehicles 3, 4 detached from the hauling cable 2 are kept suspended on the rails 23, 24. The detached vehicles 3, 4 can thus be moved at a speed which is lower than that of the hauling cable 2, in particular to facilitate boarding and alighting of the passengers.

More particularly, the vehicles 3, 4 comprise first and second running means 30, 31. The first running means 30 is configured to run on at least two carrying cables 19, 20. For example, the first running means 30 comprises at least four rotary sheaves designed to run on the carrying cables 19, 20, i.e. at least two rotary sheaves are situated on each side of the attachment device 29 to run respectively on the main carrying cable 19 and secondary carrying cable 20. In FIG. 1, each vehicle 3, 4 comprises two pairs of rotary sheaves situated on each side of the attachment device 29. The second running means 31 is configured to run on at least two rails 23, 24. For example, the second running means 31 comprises at least four wheels, i.e. at least two wheels situated on each side of the attachment device 29 to respectively run on the main rail 23 and secondary rail 24, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

A vehicle 3, 4 is thus transferred from one segment 17, 18, 21, 22 of the travel path 5 to the other while remaining hauled by the hauling cable 2. The passing segments 17, 18 enable the volume of the installation 1 to be reduced, in particular due to the fact that they require less supports than the bypass segments 21, 22. Indeed, the bypass segments 21, 22 require several supports 32 to support the rails 23, 24.

According to one embodiment, the path of the first running means 30, i.e. the distance separating two rotary sheaves located facing one another on each side of the attachment device 29, is higher than the path of the second running means 31, i.e. the distance separating two wheels located facing one another on each side of the attachment device 29. As a variant, the path of the first running means 30 is lower than that of the second running means 31. It can also be envisaged for the paths of the running means 30, 31 to be identical. To facilitate transfer from one segment of the travel path 5 to the other, an overlap can be provided between two consecutive segments. To further facilitate transfer from one segment to the other, the segments are not situated at the same height. For example, the passing segments 17, 18 can be situated above the bypass segments 21, 22.

A side view of the installation 1, and more particularly a vehicle 3 situated at different points of the travel path 5 during its travel Y along the segments 17, 18, 21, 22, has been represented in FIG. 4. In a first step, the vehicle 3 is situated at a first bypass segment 21 and the second running means 31 of the vehicle 3 runs on the rails 23, 24.

In this first step, the first running means 30 is not in contact with the carrying cables 19, 20 and the latter do not participate in moving the vehicle 3. In a second step, the vehicle 3 approaches a passing segment 17 and the first running means 30 comes into contact with the carrying cables 19, 20. As the carrying cables 19, 20 are located above the rails 23, 24, the second running means 31 leaves the rails 23, 24 and no longer participates in moving the vehicle 3. In this second step, the first running means 30 runs on the carrying cables 19, 20 and the vehicle 3 continues to be hauled by the hauling cable 2. Then, in a third step, the vehicle 3 approaches a second bypass segment 22. The second running means 31 comes into contact with the rails 23, 24, and the first running means 13 leaves the carrying cables 19, 20. In this third step, the vehicle 3 continues to be hauled by the hauling cable 2 by running on the rails 23, 24. Transfer of the vehicle 3 from the carrying cables 19, 20 to the rails 23, 24, and vice versa, is facilitated by guiding the ends of the carrying cables 19, 20 towards the ground. The rails 23, 24 are moreover situated above the ground. In order to guide the carrying cables 19, 20 towards the ground, a first end of a carrying cable 19, 20 is fixed to an anchoring drum 33, the carrying cable 19, 20 is then diverted, and the second end is fixed to a tensioning device 34 to manage the tension of the carrying cable 19, 20. The assembly formed by the anchoring drum 33 and tensioning device 34 cooperates to keep the carrying cables 19, 20 taut. In particular, a passing segment 17, 18 is particularly suitable for travelling over large distances. A large distance is considered to correspond to a distance greater than that separating two consecutive supports 32 of a bypass segment 21, 22.

An embodiment of a vehicle 3, 4 has been represented in FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the vehicle 3, 4 comprises a carriage 35 on which the attachment device 29 and the first and second running means 30, 31 are mounted. In other words, the running means 30, 31 are securely attached to the carriage 35, and therefore to the vehicle 3, 4. The running means 30, 31 is passive as the vehicle 3, 4 is moved by means of the hauling cable 2. The running means 30, 31 therefore does not need to be motor-driven. Preferentially, the wheels of the second running means 31 are mounted rotating freely on the two lateral ends of the carriage 35. The rotary sheaves of the first running means 30 can also be mounted rotating freely on the two lateral ends of the carriage 35. The vehicle 3, 4 further comprises a hanger arm 36 on which the car 28 is fixed. The hanger arm 36 is preferentially connected to the carriage 35 by a pivot-link enabling pendulum of the car 28 with respect to the carriage 35.

The attachment device 29 is a detachable grip comprising jaws which can open and close on the hauling cable 2. The jaws comprise a top part 37 and a bottom part 38 and the hauling cable 2 is clamped between the top part 37 and the bottom part 38 of the jaws when the vehicle 3, 4 is attached to the hauling cable 2. The detachable grip also comprises one or more springs 39 to keep the jaws closed on the hauling cable 2. The detachable grip further comprises a lever 40 which presses on the spring 39 to open the jaws. The lever 40 is actuated in the station 11, 12 in order to be able to attach and detach the vehicle 3, 4 to and from the hauling cable 2. The detachable grip is mounted on the carriage 35 by means of a support arm 41. A support sheave 7 and compression sheave 8 have also been represented, their axes of rotation being directed horizontally. An inner diverting sheave 9 and outer diverting sheave 10 having their axes of rotation directed vertically have also been represented, respectively on the left and on the right of FIG. 5.

For example, the sheaves 7 to 10 of the guide means are mounted on the suspension means 42, and the suspension means 42 is connected to the support 32. Specific pillars can also be provided situated along the travel path 5 to support the sheaves 7 to 10 of the guide means. When there is no vehicle 3, 4 passing at the sheaves 7 to 10 of the guide means, the hauling cable 2 is pressing against the sheaves 7 to 10. When the vehicles 3, 4 pass at a sheave 7 to 10, the jaws are then in contact with the sheave 7, 8 and 10, or it is the hauling cable 2 which is in contact with the outer diverting sheave 10. In particular, the sheaves 7 to 10 of the guide means comprise a groove enabling the hauling cable 2 and the jaws to pass in the groove. In FIG. 5, a compression sheave 8, a support sheave 7 and two diverting sheaves 9, 10 have been represented, but these sheaves 7 to 10 are not located in the same place, i.e. in the same plane, along the travel path 5. Indeed, at a given location of the travel path 5, there is generally only one sheave 7 to 10 of the same type, a support sheave 7, a compression sheave 8, an inner diverting sheave 9 or an outer diverting sheave 10. Compression sheaves 8 and support sheaves 7 arranged facing one another can advantageously be provided at the same location to guarantee a vertical flexion of the hauling cable 2.

In general manner, the main rail 23 is connected to the secondary rail 24 by the suspension means 42. The suspension means 42 is mounted on the supports 32 to keep the rails 23, 24 above the ground. The suspension means 42 comprises a frame, and each rail 23, 24 is mounted on one end of the frame. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the frame of the suspension means 42 is U-shaped with the opening directed towards the ground, and the main and secondary rails 23, 24 are also U-shaped.

In FIG. 6, another embodiment has been represented in which the suspension means 42 comprises a C-shaped frame with the opening directed towards the ground.

Another embodiment of the rails 23, 24 of a bypass segment 21, 22 and of a vehicle 3, 4 suspended on the rails 23, 24 has been represented in FIG. 7. In this other embodiment, the suspension means 42 comprises a C-shaped frame with the opening directed towards the ground. The main rail 23 and secondary rail 24 are in the form of a full cylinder. The second running means 31 comprises four groups of wheels, two front groups 43, 44 situated respectively to the left and right of the attachment device 29 and two rear groups situated respectively to the left and right of the attachment device 29, not represented for the sake of simplification. Each group of wheels 43, 44 comprises three wheels, a top wheel 45 a, 45 b located above a rail 23, 24, a side wheel 46 a, 46 b pressing against one side of the rail 23, 24, and a bottom wheel 47 a, 47 b located underneath the rail 23, 24. The assembly formed by the twelve wheels of the second running means 31 enables the vehicle 3, 4 to be kept securely held on the rails 23, 24.

An embodiment of a support means 50 to keep the carrying cables 19, 20 above the ground has been represented in FIG. 8. A vehicle 3 located at the level of the support means 50 has also been represented. The support means 50 is for example a line pillar comprising a brace 51 extending perpendicularly to the running direction of the hauling cable 2. A frame 52 is mounted on the brace 51, above the ground. The brace 51 comprises two ends 53 a, 53 b on which two shoes 54 a, 54 b are respectively mounted. The shoes 54 a, 54 b each comprises a groove to receive a carrying cable 19, 20. A support sheave 7 mounted on the frame 52 of the line pillar 50 has also been represented.

The invention which has just been described is particularly suitable for travel paths which have horizontal curves and which require suitable segments, in particular involving the use of carrying cables, to circumvent obstacles over large distances. 

1-8. (canceled)
 9. Installation of aerial transport, comprising a hauling cable, a travel path comprising a first segment equipped with two carrying cables extending along the hauling cable, and a vehicle comprising an attachment device configured to attach the vehicle to the hauling cable and two pairs of rotary sheaves configured to respectively run on the carrying cables, characterized in that the travel path comprises a second segment equipped with two rails extending along the hauling cable, and in that the vehicle comprises two pairs of wheels configured to respectively run on the rails.
 10. Installation according to claim 9, wherein the second segment comprises at least one horizontal curve, and diverting sheaves configured to guide the hauling cable along said at least one horizontal curve.
 11. Installation according to claim 9, wherein the second segment comprises at least one vertical curve, and compression or support sheaves configured to guide the hauling cable along said at least one vertical curve.
 12. Installation according to claim 9, wherein the path of the two pairs of rotary sheaves is higher than the path of the two pairs of wheels.
 13. Installation according to claim 9, wherein the first segment is located above the second segment.
 14. Installation according to claim 9, comprising a driving pulley to drive the hauling cable and two diverting pulleys to divert the hauling cable in the direction of the driving pulley. 